Pro Football Focus envisions a varied career trajectory for Budda Baker in the 2017 redraft, suggesting he could excel in multiple roles and have a diverse, impactful NFL career.

In the constantly evolving landscape of the NFL, players’ careers are shaped by a complex interplay of talent, coaching, scheme fit, injuries, and personal development. When evaluating prospects like Budda Baker, a dynamic safety and versatile athlete, analysts such as Pro Football Focus (PFF) often project not only their immediate impact but also their long-term potential across multiple roles on the football field.

In the 2017 redraft scenario, PFF suggests that Baker’s skill set could allow him to excel in a variety of positions, leading to a diverse and impactful NFL career. This analysis aims to unpack this projection, exploring Baker’s college background, the traits that make him adaptable, the different roles he might assume, and how his career could unfold over the years, ultimately shaping him into a versatile star.

Background: Budda Baker’s College Journey and Draft Position
Collegiate Excellence:
Budda Baker played at the University of Washington, where he established himself as one of the most versatile and instinctive defenders in college football. Known for his quickness, football IQ, and playmaking ability, Baker showcased a rare combination of speed, agility, and instincts that made him a playmaker at multiple levels of the defense.

Draft Context:
In the 2017 NFL Draft, Baker was selected in the second round (36th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals. His draft profile highlighted his exceptional athleticism, coverage skills, and tackling ability, though some scouts questioned his size and potential positional ceiling. Nevertheless, his tape demonstrated a player capable of thriving in multiple defensive roles.

PFF’s Projection: A Career of Versatility and Impact
Pro Football Focus’s projection for Baker’s career in a hypothetical 2017 redraft emphasizes his potential to adapt and flourish across various positions, driven by his unique skill set. The core idea is that Baker’s traits—speed, coverage ability, tackling, football intelligence—are not limited to a single role but can be leveraged in multiple ways, making him a valuable, multi-dimensional asset.

The Foundation: Traits That Enable Versatility
Speed and Agility:
Baker’s elite 4.45-second 40-yard dash and quick-twitch athleticism make him an ideal candidate for roles that require coverage, sideline-to-sideline pursuit, and explosive plays.

Instincts and Football IQ:
His ability to read plays, recognize formations, and anticipate routes allows him to excel in coverage and make plays on the ball.

Tackling and Physicality:
Despite his size (listed around 5’10”, 195 pounds), Baker’s tackling technique and competitive spirit enable him to be effective against the run and in contact.

Coverage Skills:
His man and zone coverage ability, combined with quick hips and ball skills, suggest he could be a key component in pass defense, whether as a safety or hybrid defender.

Potential Roles and Career Paths
Based on these traits, PFF envisions Baker’s career unfolding along multiple trajectories, some of which include:

1. Free Safety and Deep Cover Specialist
Baker’s speed and instincts make him well-suited for a traditional free safety role, patrolling the deep middle of the field, providing help over the top, and making plays on the ball. His ability to read quarterbacks’ eyes and route concepts allows him to be a significant pass-defending presence.

2. Strong Safety and Box Defender
He could also thrive as a strong safety, playing closer to the line of scrimmage, supporting against the run, and covering tight ends or slot receivers. His tackling and physicality allow him to shed blocks and make impactful stops.

3. Nickel and Subpackage Defender
Baker’s quickness and coverage aptitude position him as an ideal nickelback or subpackage defender, covering slot receivers, shuttling between linebacker and safety roles, and providing flexible coverage in passing situations.

4. Hybrid Linebacker / Box Safety
Given his athleticism, Baker could be used as a hybrid linebacker, especially in schemes emphasizing versatile personnel. He could blitz, cover tight ends, and fill run gaps effectively, functioning as a “money” player who can do it all.

5. Special Teams Contributor and Playmaker
Early in his career, Baker’s explosiveness and tackling would make him an asset on special teams, contributing to kick and punt coverage units, with the potential to become a game-changing returner or coverage player.

The Impact of Position Flexibility on Career Longevity and Success
PFF emphasizes that Baker’s ability to adapt to multiple roles can significantly extend his NFL career and increase his value. Players who can switch positions and roles tend to:

Avoid Obsolescence: As team needs evolve, versatile players remain valuable.
Increase Playing Time: Coaches can deploy them in various packages, keeping them on the field more often.
Create Mismatch Opportunities: His ability to cover multiple positions confuses opponents and creates matchup advantages.
Boost Leadership and Football IQ: Multi-role players often develop a comprehensive understanding of the game, translating into leadership roles.
Development Path and Potential Milestones
Early Career (Years 1-3):

Establish himself as a starter at safety, contributing on passing downs and special teams.
Demonstrate coverage ability and tackling consistency.
Develop leadership qualities and football IQ.
Mid-Career (Years 4-7):

Become a key playmaker in the secondary, earning Pro Bowl selections.
Expand into hybrid roles, such as playing linebacker in certain schemes.
Lead team in turnovers, tackles for loss, and big plays.
Late Career (Years 8+):

Transition into a veteran leadership role, mentoring younger players.
Possibly shift to a more specialized position based on team needs.
Be recognized as one of the most versatile safeties of his era.
Case Studies: Comparing to Similar Players
PFF’s projection likely draws parallels with players like:

Earl Thomas: A safety known for his range, coverage, and playmaking, who thrived in deep safety and hybrid roles.
Tyrann Mathieu: A versatile defensive back capable of playing safety, slot corner, and linebacker-like roles.
Keanu Neal: A safety with strong tackling and coverage skills, capable of moving between roles.
Baker’s skill set aligns with these players, but his unique athletic profile could allow him to surpass them in terms of positional flexibility.

Challenges and Considerations
While PFF’s projection is optimistic, certain factors could influence Baker’s career path:

Size and Physicality: Some schemes may prefer larger safeties for run support.
Injury Risks: Versatility often involves more movement, increasing injury exposure.
Scheme Fit: Coaches’ defensive philosophies will impact how often and effectively Baker can be used in multiple roles.
Broader NFL Trends and the Value of Versatility
The NFL increasingly values multi-dimensional defenders, especially in passing-centric leagues. The success of hybrid players like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, and Tyrann Mathieu underscores the strategic advantage of adaptable safeties.

Baker’s projected career path aligns with this trend, positioning him as a modern, flexible defender who can change roles based on game flow, matchups, and evolving team strategies.

A Future of Impact and Diversity
Pro Football Focus’s projection for Budda Baker’s career in a hypothetical 2017 redraft paints a picture of a player with the potential to carve out a diverse and impactful NFL career. His combination of athleticism, intelligence, and versatility suggests he could excel in multiple roles—ranging from traditional safety to hybrid linebacker—making him a valuable asset for any team.

This trajectory not only maximizes his individual talent but also offers strategic advantages to his team, embodying the modern NFL’s emphasis on adaptable, multi-role defenders. If his development continues along this path, Baker could become one of the league’s most versatile and impactful players, celebrated for his ability to do it all on defense.